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What's up with that. I shoot my military surplus rifles and with some of them I get tight groups. But with each subsequent 5 shot group they start to open up. What's at play here? I have ideas but not certain what's going on. Thanks.

Lot's of variables at play here. My first guess with military rifles would be a rough bore quickly fouling out.

+1 on the fouling as a first guess.

Depending on the range you use and it's rules, it would be an interesting experiment to shoot 3-4 groups and then clean the bore to find out.

I would have guessed the warm barrel moving around, and contacting the stock, but the 2 guys who previously posted are much smarter that I am.

Temperature, stock fit and various parts on military rifles are all possibilities.

One has to remember, Military rifles are rarely designed for target accuracy.

ETA: I don't know anything, I just pretend to on the internet.

Grandpa Rex wrote:+1 on the fouling as a first guess.

Depending on the range you use and it's rules, it would be an interesting experiment to shoot 3-4 groups and then clean the bore to find out.

Now that's a good idea!! Will try that!

xd ED wrote:I would have guessed the warm barrel moving around, and contacting the stock, but the 2 guys who previously posted are much smarter that I am.

I can't rule that out either with the un-issued rifles with new bores. I always allow time between shots for cool down, but I think I'll go for a total cool down and then try again. These old military rifles are no competition shooters....that's for sure. Stock making was bare bones I suspect.

Rip Van Winkle wrote:Temperature, stock fit and various parts on military rifles are all possibilities.

One has to remember, Military rifles are rarely designed for target accuracy.

ETA: I don't know anything, I just pretend to on the internet.

Yup, for sure! Just accurate enough for the kill zone, not MOA. I love shooting them all the same. But would be interesting to see if I can dial in and maybe work the stock to my advantage.

1911A45ACP wrote:What's up with that. I shoot my military surplus rifles and with some of them I get tight groups. But with each subsequent 5 shot group they start to open up. What's at play here? I have ideas but not certain what's going on. Thanks.

The rifling is coming loose?

jdege wrote:

1911A45ACP wrote:What's up with that. I shoot my military surplus rifles and with some of them I get tight groups. But with each subsequent 5 shot group they start to open up. What's at play here? I have ideas but not certain what's going on. Thanks.

The rifling is coming loose?

Ohhhhhh.....well, nothing Gorilla Glue couldn't fix. Or some duct tape maybe.

Come on, don't be an amateur. Use JB weld.